Cougar QBX Mini-ITX Tower Chassis Pictured M1 like design

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OverRated

Limp Gawd
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I'm interested in how this case is built look very similar to the M1 layout.

btarunr said:
Here are the first pictures of Cougar's QBX mini-iTX tower-type chassis. Measuring 158 mm x 373.5 mm x 282 mm (WxDxH), the case can seat a standard mini-ITX motherboard, with 160 mm tall CPU coolers, and graphics cards as long as 35 cm. In the picture below, Cougar installed a Radeon HD 5970, which is among the longest DirectX 11 graphics cards ever made. The case can also seat a standard ATX power supply towards its front portion. Its cooling features include two 120 mm exhausts on the top, with provision for 240 mm x 120 mm radiators; an 80 mm rear exhaust, and a 120 mm intake on the side panel. Storage area includes one 5.25-inch drive bay, one 3.5-inch internal bay, and three 2.5-inch ones. Front panel connectivity includes USB 3.0 and HDA jacks.
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Yeah, internal layout is like the M1 but since it's higher/taller the 240 rad goes on the top, and the ATX PSU can start higher up to allow longer GPU.
 
FWIW, I'm happy that vendors are beginning to produce cases that are inspired by the M1's layout. More attention and care in the mITX case market is a win for everyone. And cases direct from vendors will have greater reach/accessibility and lower cost, presumably.

Granted, I hope they all do better than this, but still :rolleyes: You take what you can get.

I'm confused by the info in the post, though, and the sparse photos. This supports cooler heights that are greater than the width of the case (as Aibohphobia pointed out)? Where would the 5.25'' drive bay go, that the post mentions? And where do 3.5'' and 2.5'' drives go, especially if there's an ATX power supply installed?

The fan mounts on the front and top (and radiator support!) are a nice plus - and supporting more power supplies with that extra height is a nice side-benefit, even if the need for that is questionable. 16.6L is pretty good for what you get, too, compared to lots of other cases (including the veritably chunky Prodigy :p).
 
It seems PCIe power connectors were an afterthought. Ugly sliding panels are shameful unless it's *really* cheap. I can't support a bad ripoff, please remove this from the world.
 
Phuncz said:
Ugly sliding panels are shameful unless it's *really* cheap. I can't support a bad ripoff, please remove this from the world.
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As much as I try to discriminate between my personal tastes and those of everyone else in the world... I think it looks pretty ugly, too :( I can see the potential for some really creative mods, though. But even looking beyond the odd design, it just looks cheap.

...Which is okay, if the price matches! But AFAIK that hasn't been divulged yet.
 
Why would you care what i looks like? I have a M1 for looks this would be more a LAN rig which i can through around and not give a shit about.
 
Because that money you spend on a cheap ripoff could have gone to true skilled designers and engineers.
 
This case will be around the same price as a bitfenix prodigy seems like a good deal to me.
 
OverRated said:
Why would you care what i looks like? I have a M1 for looks this would be more a LAN rig which i can through around and not give a shit about.
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Well, it's not as if looking good and being durable are always mutually exclusive characteristics of a computer chassis. And in the case of the M1 (and likely others), you can buy a well-padded bag for it, so as to carry it around safely - so it's completely feasible to have a really nice looking case, without the worry of damaging it in transit.

Also, lots of people (myself included) won't have more than one computer that does everything. So we don't really have the luxury to be able to make very narrow decisions regarding component choice, since there isn't the "fallback" of having the "other" computer.

Anyway, wouldn't most people want the computer that's most visible to the public to look really good? Again we go into personal taste, but - for anyone that thinks this looks bad, I'd be surprised if they felt there was no other better alternative.
 
OverRated said:
I'm interested in how this case is built look very similar to the M1 layout.
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The M1 circle jerk is getting kinda ridiculous on this forum. Let's not forget that the M1 was originally based on the SG05. The M1 was also not the first case to use a cage on the side to hold fans/hardware.

Note: I am not an M1 hater, I supported the original Indiegogo campaign. I'm just getting tired of seeing every new itx case get compared to the M1.
 
tuanster1119 said:
The M1 circle jerk is getting kinda ridiculous on this forum. Let's not forget that the M1 was originally based on the SG05. The M1 was also not the first case to use a cage on the side to hold fans/hardware.

Note: I am not an M1 hater, I supported the original Indiegogo campaign. I'm just getting tired of seeing every new itx case get compared to the M1.
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But in many ultrabook reviews, the laptops are compared to the Macbook Air. WHY? :D
 
I don't think every case should be like the M1. For example, I think it would be nice to have something that is cheaper, doesn't have the same focus on water cooling, but looks just as clean. Something like a Lone Industries L2, scaled up to hold a long graphics card and an SFX PSU?

I don't like the look of this case though.
 
tuanster1119 said:
The M1 circle jerk is getting kinda ridiculous on this forum...
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I totally understand (and to a certain extent agree with) your sentiment. Obviously the fact that it was born here means there will always be a lot of name dropping, regardless of the pertinence - at least in some instances. But the title of this thread invites such comparison, so I feel it's a little harder to complain about it in this particular instance.

Still, the M1 commands a lot of attention for a reason. SFF is all about maximizing the the ratio of utility to volume, and the layout of components and use of space in the M1 (which is distinct from the M1 as a case) allows for a lot of hardware - and a large variety of it - for the size. In that way, I think a lot of people like to make those comparisons so as to demonstrate how different layouts are better or worse... And for the Cougar QBX, which has such a similar layout, these comparisons then logically shift to the M1 as a case - which is smaller, and (many would say) looks better, but for a price premium.

tuanster1119 said:
Let's not forget that the M1 was originally based on the SG05. The M1 was also not the first case to use a cage on the side to hold fans/hardware.
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The originality of the ideas and features behind the M1 (or any case, really) is pretty much inconsequential. What matters are how those choices work together as a system, and how well the overall solution is executed. That people are so quick to say that the QBX is a copy of the M1 indicates how unique the M1's combination of features are, relative to all the other cases out there.

I'll reiterate: I'm happy to see manufacturers begin to make cases that implement internal layouts inspired by the M1, and even if manufacturers make lots of SFF cases (like this) that don't appeal to many, we all individually only ever really need one case that does. Really, I want the SFF case market to arrive at a point where the M1 is no longer a standout (and doesn't have the kind of attention it does), because of how good everything else is.
 
PlayfulPhoenix said:
I'll reiterate: I'm happy to see manufacturers begin to make cases that implement internal layouts inspired by the M1, and even if manufacturers make lots of SFF cases (like this) that don't appeal to many, we all individually only ever really need one case that does. Really, I want the SFF case market to arrive at a point where the M1 is no longer a standout (and doesn't have the kind of attention it does), because of how good everything else is.
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I agree. There is no such thing as a perfect case for everyone and I think the M1 hits the right compromises in almost every way.

For myself, I dislike the Steam machine layout and I'd rather see more M1 layouts in the future. I'm actually glad this QBX case is coming out. The M1 seems like a great case but it's too expensive for some people. This QBX case seems like a good price compromise vs the M1
 
At least it kinda looks better than that ugly M1 doe. Maybe that car-like emblem made that boring bland front panel look less uglier than it really is.
 
I don't really blame people if they're tired of hearing about it. The thread's been on the first page in this section for over a year and a half, and now there's 3-4 other related threads. I can see why people would get sick of it - particularly if it's not a case that appeals to them.
 
PlayfulPhoenix said:
Well, it's not as if looking good and being durable are always mutually exclusive characteristics of a computer chassis. And in the case of the M1 (and likely others), you can buy a well-padded bag for it, so as to carry it around safely - so it's completely feasible to have a really nice looking case, without the worry of damaging it in transit.

Also, lots of people (myself included) won't have more than one computer that does everything. So we don't really have the luxury to be able to make very narrow decisions regarding component choice, since there isn't the "fallback" of having the "other" computer.

Anyway, wouldn't most people want the computer that's most visible to the public to look really good? Again we go into personal taste, but - for anyone that thinks this looks bad, I'd be surprised if they felt there was no other better alternative.
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You are right there but also comes down to if people really want to carry there systems around in a bag like a laptop, Me for one doesn't and rather drill holes into the side of this cheap case and attach a screen to it, I always wanted to do it to the M1 but the case was just to weak.
 
I did a mod like that in the past, you'd best look at mATX for that unless you like a 12" screen.
 
PlayfulPhoenix said:
Well, it's not as if looking good and being durable are always mutually exclusive characteristics of a computer chassis. And in the case of the M1 (and likely others), you can buy a well-padded bag for it, so as to carry it around safely - so it's completely feasible to have a really nice looking case, without the worry of damaging it in transit.

Also, lots of people (myself included) won't have more than one computer that does everything. So we don't really have the luxury to be able to make very narrow decisions regarding component choice, since there isn't the "fallback" of having the "other" computer.

Anyway, wouldn't most people want the computer that's most visible to the public to look really good? Again we go into personal taste, but - for anyone that thinks this looks bad, I'd be surprised if they felt there was no other better alternative.
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Not all damage occurs in transit, especially if you are taking these to lan events. You can control the environment around you if it happens to be your home, but not so much outside of it. Using the M1 as a lan case pretty much bears the acceptance that it's going to get scuffed or damaged - it isn't a particularly rugged case by any means.

Necere said:
I don't really blame people if they're tired of hearing about it. The thread's been on the first page in this section for over a year and a half, and now there's 3-4 other related threads. I can see why people would get sick of it - particularly if it's not a case that appeals to them.
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It's mostly getting annoying from the perspective of people instantly shooting everything down as "crappier than the M1" or a "clone of the M1". Blatant imitation and ripoffs like the front fascia of certain cases and the M1 name of the Zalman case annoy me, but I'm glad the M1 overall has had such an impact that it has spurred some new things coming into the mITX arena.
 
Vittra said:
Not all damage occurs in transit, especially if you are taking these to lan events. You can control the environment around you if it happens to be your home, but not so much outside of it. Using the M1 as a lan case pretty much bears the acceptance that it's going to get scuffed or damaged - it isn't a particularly rugged case by any means.
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I know what you mean. People might knock over a soda can next to your PC, throw something or bump into in when installing or clearing their spot exhausted from lack of sleep. I've seen plenty of cases and screens get a good whack of some power cable during cleanup.
 
Vittra said:
Not all damage occurs in transit, especially if you are taking these to lan events... Using the M1 as a lan case pretty much bears the acceptance that it's going to get scuffed or damaged - it isn't a particularly rugged case by any means.
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Phuncz said:
People might knock over a soda can next to your PC, throw something or bump into in when installing or clearing their spot exhausted from lack of sleep. I've seen plenty of cases and screens get a good whack of some power cable during cleanup.
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I'm paranoid about keeping my electronics pristine, to the point where just reading these caused some shudders :eek: I suppose I've been lucky insofar that I've never had any incidental damage from the handful of times my computers have been away from home. But then, I've only used cases that are probably more durable.

Vittra said:
It's mostly getting annoying from the perspective of people instantly shooting everything down as "crappier than the M1" or a "clone of the M1". Blatant imitation and ripoffs like the front fascia of certain cases and the M1 name of the Zalman case annoy me, but I'm glad the M1 overall has had such an impact that it has spurred some new things coming into the mITX arena.
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Completely agree.
 
This case is getting a lot of crap for looking ugly and having a similar internal design as the Ncase M1.

I think it looks beautiful. The brushed aluminum finish really gives a nice look to it and it reminds me of the ever-so-gorgeous Asrock M8.

As for the internal design, I don't give a damn if they used the same internal design as the Ncase M1. Heck, I'd encourage it. It's a perfect design that saves on space. I wouldn't say that they stole the idea or were inspired by it, but it's likely that the designers have seen the Ncase M1 before. If this is true, then they just tweaked it, just like Necere did with the SG05. They added simultaneous ATX PSU and full-length GPU support, while the Ncase M1 only supported SFX PSU's and full-length GPU's or ATX PSU's and short-PCB GPU's. There's also the radiator at the top and what appears to be a 120mm fan mount on the front. This case is 4-5 liters bigger than the Ncase M1.

I'm not trying to show any hate for the Ncase M1, but everyone needs to understand that competitors come along. This case will be mass-manufactured and will be available at all times to the public at half or at a third of the cost of the Ncase M1. I am excited for this case and hope that it becomes popular. I will most likely buy this case in the future.
 
Wow! MSRP $59.90!

And looks like they made some changes now too.

QBX-Water-Cooling_w_600.jpg
 
Yeah that's pretty nice for people that want SFF simple, cheap, and with the ability to reuse as many parts as possible. Not the smallest thing to see the light of day, but smaller than the current consumer normal, the prodigy.
 
I love my M1, but I'm really glad more companies are coming out with similar cases, it means (hopefully) that more dev time will be spent on SFF components like heatsinks and that benifits everyone.
 


I hope it's not the final design. With a 178mm width I'm expecting the hoses to have a minimum requirement of 280-370mm in length, which will be hard to tuck in when you close the flap, as they'll be likely to rest on the backside of the GPU. This is also assuming the picture shows the maximum of the opening, which might cause issues since you'll have to use a hand to hold it open when servicing the machine.

Edit: Updated the width and hose lengths according to the update in the OP.
 
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Turning the case upside down or laying it on it's side should address any concern of having to hold that hinged panel.
 
That explains the 160mm height clearance previously indicated. Old photos point to it being 158mm, but I suspect that is not including how much the side panels actually protrude beyond the front fascia.
 
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